"Pollution is not a new phenomenon" (www.pollutionissues.com 2006). Archaeologists searching through sites of Upper Paleolithic settlements (settlements of the first modern humans, between forty thousand and ten thousand years ago) often find piles of stone tools, and the litter from making these tools. It could even be argued that the use of smelters by the Romans was the first form of pollution. Even though pollution of large proportions has been a problem since long before the Middle Ages, it is note worthy that after World War II, the effects of the pollution changed significantly. During this time industries began producing and utilizing synthetic materials, such as plastics, (PCBs), and pesticides such as DDT. These newly produced materials were not only toxic, but they accumulate in the environment. Since these materials were introduced there has been an increased rate of cancer, physical birth defects, and mental ratardation. There has also been a high loss of biodiversity in the environment- animal and plant species are becoming at alarming rates. The terrible cleanup costs of hazardous waste dumping, and the difficulty of disposing of these wastes assures that water, land, and air pollution will continue to be a problem for generations to come (www.pollutionissues.com 2006).
Analyze historical pollution trends and project them for the future. Industrialization since the Industrial Revolution has resulted in pollution of water, air and soil. Harmful wastes have increased astronomically. Populations have moved from rural to urban areas, and have exacberated the effects of pollution. More advanced machines and farming techniques also became available. These new methods caused the soil to degenerate and increased the amount of land used, thus ruining animal habitats.
Year
SOx
NOx
CO
1940
17.6
6.8
81.5
1950
19.8
9.3
86.1
1960
19.7
12.8
88.1
1970
28.3
18.3
100.2
1980
23.4
20.4
77.0
Source: US Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1990. The above table shows the total air pollution over the years 1940-1980. Each year is shown as representative of that decade. The figures in the table are in millions of metric tons. SOx refers to any type of sulfur dioxide, NOx refers to any nitrogen oxide, and CO is carbon monoxide. As is quite clear from the table the levels of SOx and NOx have been increasing rapidly over the years. These are both dangerous greenhouse gases, which can also have negative health effects.Overall changes in the level of any chemical in the environment will have many impacts, both foreseeable and unforeseeable. As rates continue to rise and fall, the environment will change with them.One of the largest factors contributing to global warming is the problem of overpopulation and its effects. The greater number of people consume more items which take more energy to make, they drive more cars, and create larger amounts of garbage. These factors all increase the global warming problem. The number of different products and human activities that contribute to global warming are so far and wide that finding the solutions to the problems is very difficult. Using a refrigerator releases dangerous gases, turning on the lights requires energy from a power plant, and driving to work causes gas emissionsfrom the car. Many normal, everyday activities can lead to the production of greenhouse gases.
Activity
Percent Contribution to Global Warming
Energy use and production
57%
Chlorofluorocarbons
17%
Agricultural practices
14%
Changes in land use
9%
Other industrial activities
3%
Source: C&EN, March 27, 1989, p. 22, from the US Environmental Protection Agency. Source: R. Downing, R. Ramankutty, and J. Shah, RINS-ASIA: An Assessment Model for Acid Deposition in Asia (The World Bank, Washington, D.C., 1997), p. 11.
The graph above shows SO2 emissions coming from each continent. Total emissions are given in millions of metric tons.
Emissions for Africa, despite the fact that the region is large and highly populated, are very low. This can be attributed to the continent's low economic development.
It appears that emissions from North America and Europe, the most developed regions of the world, are finally beginning to decrease. Environmental activism and responsive government action are probably among the leading causes for this effect. Energy Usage Throughout The World
Energy Use
Source: International Energy Agency, World Energy Outlook 1996, (OECD, Paris, 1996), pp. 237-285; International Energy Agency, Energy Statistics and Balances, on diskette (OECD, Paris, 1997). The graph above shows how much energy each region of the world or group of nations uses. By far the largest share is used by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. This group includes the United States and much of Europe, and is generally highly developed. Africa and Latin America, because the regions are poor and much less economically developed, consume significantly less energy than the rest of the world. The region where energy consumption is increasing quickest is Asia. This is mainly because of China, whose government is fulfilling its promise to industrialize the country and is thus using considerably more energy. As we use more and more energy, we will keep producing more and more pollution, unless we can find new less dirty ways of using energy. But, for now, it looks as if pollution toxicity will keep rising, but may stop if we can produce energy more cleanly(Energy Usage 1999).
Analyze historical pollution trends and project them for the future.
Industrialization since the Industrial Revolution has resulted in pollution of water, air and soil. Harmful wastes have increased astronomically. Populations have moved from rural to urban areas, and have exacberated the effects of pollution. More advanced machines and farming techniques also became available. These new methods caused the soil to degenerate and increased the amount of land used, thus ruining animal habitats.
The above table shows the total air pollution over the years 1940-1980. Each year is shown as representative of that decade.
The figures in the table are in millions of metric tons. SOx refers to any type of sulfur dioxide, NOx refers to any nitrogen oxide, and CO is carbon monoxide.
As is quite clear from the table the levels of SOx and NOx have been increasing rapidly over the years. These are both dangerous greenhouse gases, which can also have negative health effects. Overall changes in the level of any chemical in the environment will have many impacts, both foreseeable and unforeseeable. As rates continue to rise and fall, the environment will change with them. One of the largest factors contributing to global warming is the problem of overpopulation and its effects. The greater number of people consume more items which take more energy to make, they drive more cars, and create larger amounts of garbage. These factors all increase the global warming problem. The number of different products and human activities that contribute to global warming are so far and wide that finding the solutions to the problems is very difficult. Using a refrigerator releases dangerous gases, turning on the lights requires energy from a power plant, and driving to work causes gas emissionsfrom the car. Many normal, everyday activities can lead to the production of greenhouse gases.
Source: R. Downing, R. Ramankutty, and J. Shah, RINS-ASIA: An Assessment Model for Acid Deposition in Asia (The World Bank, Washington, D.C., 1997), p. 11.
The graph above shows SO2 emissions coming from each continent. Total emissions are given in millions of metric tons.
Emissions for Africa, despite the fact that the region is large and highly populated, are very low. This can be attributed to the continent's low economic development.
It appears that emissions from North America and Europe, the most developed regions of the world, are finally beginning to decrease. Environmental activism and responsive government action are probably among the leading causes for this effect.
Energy Usage Throughout The World
Source: International Energy Agency, World Energy Outlook 1996, (OECD, Paris, 1996), pp. 237-285; International Energy Agency, Energy Statistics and Balances, on diskette (OECD, Paris, 1997).
The graph above shows how much energy each region of the world or group of nations uses.
By far the largest share is used by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. This group includes the United States and much of Europe, and is generally highly developed.
Africa and Latin America, because the regions are poor and much less economically developed, consume significantly less energy than the rest of the world.
The region where energy consumption is increasing quickest is Asia. This is mainly because of China, whose government is fulfilling its promise to industrialize the country and is thus using considerably more energy. As we use more and more energy, we will keep producing more and more pollution, unless we can find new less dirty ways of using energy. But, for now, it looks as if pollution toxicity will keep rising, but may stop if we can produce energy more cleanly(Energy Usage 1999).
Works Cited 4.8 Blaise, Frank, and Dave
Home